Ketchup & Piano Lessons: 20 Facts About Parenthood

Nothing teaches like experience. And now that I’m the mother of grown daughters, I can speak from a few experiences. I talked with said daughters and here are a few things the three of us all agree on…and occasionally laugh about.

20 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Parenthood

Most childhood heartbreaks will be forgotten by your child. Mom, however, will remember every single one.

The phrase, “my child will never do that” invokes the curse that causes your child to do whatever “that” is.

At some point, you will weary of your child’s complaints and let her stop taking piano lessons.

At some point in the future, your child will say, “Why didn’t you make me stick with piano lessons?”

Everybody worries what will be the make or break for college. Very few things actually are.

Not every event should be lived for the future; make sure to kids can enjoy where they are right now.

A single bad report card or test grade isn’t life ruining.

It’s OK for life to be unfair.

Whatever junk food you’ve forbidden at home is being consumed in mass quantities at friends’ houses.

Where teenagers are concerned, we don’t even know what we don’t know.

Don’t listen to people who say strict teachers are mean; tough doesn’t equal mean, and those teachers can be some of the best.

When children tantrum in public, most bystanders are feeling badly for mom (and/or dad).

Pizza delivery is not a character flaw. Neither is handing them an iPad.

Childhood stages can be measured in the size of your ketchup bottle.

Competitive parenting makes everybody feel bad.

Nothing good ever started with the phrase, “But everybody else is doing it.”

At some point you will use the words, “If all of your friends were jumping off a cliff….”

Half-days of school would be completely terrible…except you don’t have to make lunch.

There’s no “code” to crack to ensure the future you’re planning for your child. Love them and parent them…they will be who they will be.

And finally, there is no such thing as perfect. No matter how put together things might look to an outsider…everybody’s got stuff.

I’m Lisa, I’ve spent my career chronicling the travels, challenges, and delightful messiness of fitting together work, life, and parenting. I’m the mother of two grown daughters, and I currently live in Massachusetts with my husband, two cats, and endless homeowner responsibilities.